Motorcycles are fast, fun, and economical. They can also be dangerous. Skilled and experienced riders know how to drive safely and ride defensively, but when another driver suddenly turns left in front of an oncoming bike, even the most skilled and experienced rider can only hope to avoid serious injury or worse in the crash that is bound to occur.
Florida Motorcycle Accident Statistics
Florida has averaged over 9,000 motorcycle crashes annually in recent years, leading to 2,000 incapacitating injuries, 5,500 other injuries,s and 541 deaths every year. Florida has the second-highest number of motorcycles in the country but sees more crashes than any other state. In Broward County, statistics show an average of 700 crashes every year, causing nearly 600 injuries and over 30 deaths annually. Motorcycles make up about three percent of motor vehicle registrations in Florida yet account for 20% of traffic deaths.
Choose Rosen Injury Law For Your Fort Lauderdale Motorcycle Accident Case
Motorcycle accidents are often serious or deadly, and when they occur, you need a skilled and sophisticated Fort Lauderdale motorcycle accident lawyer on your side to help you get the best result. Our injury lawyers in Fort Lauderdale offer five-star customer service to clients and the assistance of a Florida Board-Certified Specialist in civil trial law. With Rosen Injury Law, P.A. on your side, you’ll be well-positioned to achieve success on your Fort Lauderdale motorcycle accident claim, getting the medical care and compensation you need to deal with the damage done to you.
Common Causes of Motorcycle Accidents in Fort Lauderdale
Motorcycle accidents can be devastating, especially in areas like Fort Lauderdale, where busy roads and driver negligence often contribute to collisions. Motorcycles are smaller and harder to spot, making them particularly vulnerable to accidents caused by inattentive or reckless drivers. Understanding the common causes of these crashes can help raise awareness and promote safer road-sharing practices. Some common causes include:
- Motorcycle accidents in Fort Lauderdale often occur when drivers make left turns at intersections into the path of oncoming motorcycles.
- Drivers may misjudge the motorcycle’s speed or distance or fail to notice it entirely.
- Motorcyclists often have limited options to avoid collisions, leading to serious or fatal injuries.
- Other common causes of motorcycle accidents include:
- Drivers failing to yield the right-of-way.
- Inattentional blindness, where drivers overlook motorcycles due to their smaller size and infrequent presence on the road.
- Negligent driver behaviors that endanger motorcyclists:
- Failing to check blind spots or signals before turning or changing lanes.
- Driving aggressively or recklessly, such as crowding or cutting off motorcycles, can lead to crashes even without direct contact.
What If I’m Injured in a Fort Lauderdale Motorcycle Accident?
Unlike motor vehicle drivers, or even bicyclists or pedestrians who get injured in a crash, motorcycle riders aren’t covered by no-fault Personal Injury Protection (PIP) insurance. Florida law does not require PIP for motorcycles, and insurance companies don’t bother to offer it.
No PIP coverage means no “no-fault” benefits, so injured motorcyclists have no choice but to pursue fault-based claims against the negligent driver who caused the accident. This requires proving that the other driver was negligent and that their negligence caused the crash, and also proving the injuries and damages that resulted. On the plus side, it is possible to recover much higher damages in a fault-based claim over and above what no-fault PIP benefits provide.
Being successful on a negligence claim requires the assistance of a skilled and experienced personal injury attorney. Persons who try to settle insurance claims on their own never receive as much as a good attorney could get for them. Eric Rosen is a Board-Certified trial specialist with a number of multi-million dollar verdicts under his belt. When insurance companies are up against Rosen Injury Law, P.A., they are dealing with a known quantity who won’t fall for the standard tricks and tactics designed to avoid liability or limit a payout below what it should be.
Our accident attorneys in Fort Lauderdale fight the bias many hold against bikers and the tendency to hold motorcycle riders at least partially responsible for a crash. Even if the rider wasn’t wearing a helmet – which is not required under Florida law – we work to see that our client’s recovery is not unfairly diminished.
Contact A Fort Lauderdale Motorcycle Accident Attorney Today
If you or a loved one has been injured in a Fort Lauderdale motorcycle accident, call Rosen Injury Law, P.A. at 954-787-1500 for a free consultation. There’s no fee until after we recover compensation for you.
